Extensible Bracelet

ABSTRACT

An extensible bracelet comprises an annular element formed by a plurality of links and an elastic ring which is mounted to extend through each link . Each link has a female element and a male element, which are mutually movably attached to the male element and the female element, respectively, of the adjacent links. Particularly, each male element comprises a slot and each female element comprises a side hole for a pin that extends through said side hole and through the slot to restrict the movement of the female element of one link and the male element of the link adjacent thereto away from each other.

THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an extensible bracelet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Extensible bracelets are known in the art and are disclosed, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,059, EP 2712513, U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,050 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,250,153.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,059 discloses a bracelet with an elastic ring having links mounted thereon that are able to slide relative to each other and to the elastic ring, to change the diameter of the bracelet and adapt the diameter of the wrist of the bracelet wearer. Each link consists of a male element that fits into the hole of an adjacent link.

EP 2712513, U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,050 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,250,153 also disclose a bracelet with an elastic ring with links mounted thereon that are able to slide relative to each other and to the elastic ring. The links comprise a sleeve with two opposite holes and a sleeve with two male elements that are coupled to respective holes of adjacent sleeves for the two adjacent sleeves to be able to move relative to each other and to the male elements.

Other examples of extensible bracelets are disclosed in US-RE-25,163, U.S. Pat. No. 2,518,507 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,718,750.

Nevertheless, the bracelets as disclosed and illustrated in the above mentioned documents are characterized by a complex structure that complicates assembly, disassembly as well as any replacement, addition or removal of links and the construction of the individual parts. Furthermore, in these bracelets, the extension and contraction movements of the elastic ring to a greater diameter and a smaller diameter respectively are not smooth and can be affected by stick-slip effects, causing user dissatisfaction, especially in case of precious metal bracelets, that are expected to exhibit accuracy and perfection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, an extensible bracelet is desired, which has a simple construction structure, is characterized by easy assembly and manufacture of its parts and has a smooth and even movement during both extension and contraction of the bracelet.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an extensible bracelet that has such structural and functional features as to fulfill the above needs, while obviating the drawbacks of prior art.

These and other objects, as better explained hereafter, are fulfilled by the bracelet as defined in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be now described in greater detail with reference to a preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of illustration and without limitation, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an extensible bracelet according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a link of the bracelet of FIG. 2, when mounted to the elastic ring,

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the link of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the link of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 shows a horizontal sectional view of the link of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 shows a vertical sectional view of the link of FIG. 2,

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an extensible bracelet according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 8 shows a side view of a link of the bracelet of FIG. 7, when mounted to the elastic ring,

FIG. 9 shows a top view of the link of FIG. 8,

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the link of FIG. 8,

FIG. 11 shows a horizontal sectional view of the link of FIG. 8,

FIG. 12 shows a vertical sectional view of the link of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the annexed figures, numeral 1 generally designates an extensible bracelet of the present invention.

Particularly referring to the FIGS. 1 to 6, an extensible bracelet 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown.

The bracelet 1 comprises an annular element 10 and an elastic ring 50.

The annular element 10 is formed by a plurality of links 20 disposed in mutually adjacent relationship in an annular direction A-A.

Preferably, the links are made of a metal material, particularly a precious metal such as gold, silver, platinum.

The elastic ring 50 is mounted to extend through each link 30 in the annular direction A-A. For this purpose, the elastic ring 50 will have a closing area that will be closed once all the links 20 of the annular element 10 have been mounted.

In one embodiment, the elastic ring 50 is formed by a spiral spring made of a metal material. Alternatively, the elastic ring 50 may be made of an elastomeric material. Due to its elastic properties, the elastic ring 50 may expand in the radial direction to fit the diameter of the wrist of the user that wears the bracelet 1.

Each link 20 is coupled on each side to a link adjacent thereto, hereinafter referenced 20′ and 20″, so that they are able to move relative to each other in the annular direction A-A.

Each link 20 has a female element 30 at a first end portion 21 and a male element 40 at a second end portion 22 opposite to the first end portion 21.

The female element 30 and the male element 40 of each link, in this example the link 20, are mutually movably attached to the male element and the female element, respectively, of the two links 20′, 20″ adjacent thereto at each side of the link 20. For simplicity the male and female elements of the two adjacent links are also referenced 40 and 30.

Thus, each links forms, at each side, a male-female and female-male coupling with a respective adjacent link, which allows the adjacent links to move toward and away from each other upon contraction and expansion of the elastic ring 10.

Particularly, each male element 40 comprises a slot 41 that extends in the annular direction A-A. The slot 41 is closed by two ends 42 a, 42 b in such annular direction A-A, and is open between two side walls 43 a, 43 b of the male element 40 to define a through opening 44 extending between these two side walls 43 a, 43 b in a transverse direction B-B, perpendicular to the annular direction A-A.

Each female element 30 comprises a side hole 41, whose axis C extends in a direction parallel to the transverse direction B-B, and a pin 32.

The pin 32 extends through the side hole 31 and the through opening 44 of the slot 41 of the male element 40 of the link 20′ adjacent to the link 20, to restrict the movement of the female element 30 of one link 20 and the male element 40 of the link 20 adjacent thereto away from each other in the annular direction A-A, Therefore, the structure of extensible bracelet 1 has a simple construction, which facilitates assembly, as well as any replacement, addition or removal of one or more links.

In the example of the figures, the female element 30 has two side walls 35 a, 35 b and the side hole 31 is formed in the side wall 35 b to receive one end of the pin 32. The other side wall 35 a may have a second side wall or a closed seat for receiving the other end of the pin 32.

Each female element 30 has an annular opening 33 whose axis extends in the annular direction A-A, and a cavity 34. The annular opening 33 is configured to allow the male element 40 of the adjacent link 20 to extend therethrough, and the cavity 34 is configured to receive said male element 40 of the adjacent link 20.

Preferably, the side hole 21 is disposed proximate to the annular opening 33.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the male element 40 of each link 20 creates a form fit with the respective female element 30 of the link 20 adjacent thereto. Thus the female element 30 guides the movement of the male element 40 through the annular opening 33 into the cavity 34.

Advantageously, each male element 40 extends to a head end 45 and one of the two ends 42 a, 42 b of the slot 41 is placed in the proximity of this head end 45.

FIGS. 7 to 12 show a second embodiment of the extensible bracelet 1 of the present invention.

In this second embodiment, each link 20 comprises a first portion 120 and a second portion 121 which are mutually coupled such that they can move relative to each other in the annular direction A-A. The first portion 120 is provided with a male element 40 and the second portion 121 is provided with a female element 30 such that the male element 40 of the first portion 120 of the link 20 is movably coupled to the female element 30 of the second portion 131 of the link 20′ adjacent thereto and the female element 30 of the second portion 121 of the link 20 is movably coupled to the male element 40 of the first portion 120 of the link 20″ adjacent thereto on the side facing away from the link 20′.

In this embodiment, the first portion 120 comprises an opposite male element 140 disposed opposite to said male element 40, and the second portion 121 comprises an opposite female element 130 disposed opposite to the female element 30, so that the opposite male element 140 of the first portion 120 and the opposite female element 130 of the second portion 121 are mutually attached such that they can move relative to each other in the annular direction A-A.

Preferably, each opposite male element 140 is formed like the male element 40 and each opposite female element 130 is formed like the female element 30.

Thus, the opposite male element 140 comprises a slot 141 which extends in the annular direction A-A, is closed by two ends 142 a, 142 b in the annular direction A-A, and is open between two side walls 143 a, 143 b to define a through opening 144 extending between said two side walls 143 a, 143 b in the transverse direction B-B, perpendicular to the annular direction A-A.

Each opposite female element 130 comprises a side hole 131 whose axis extends in a direction parallel to the transverse direction B-B and a pin 132 that extends through the hole 131 and the through opening 144 of the slot 141 of the opposite male element 140, to restrict the movement of the first portion 120 and the second portion 121 of each link 20 away from each other in the annular direction A-A.

Each opposite female element 130 has an annular opening 133 whose axis extends in the annular direction A-A, and a cavity 134, in this example communicating with the cavity 34. The annular opening 133 is configured to allow the opposite male element 140 of the first portion 120 to extend therethrough.

Preferably, the side hole 131 is disposed proximate to the annular opening 133.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the opposite male element 140 of the first portion 120 creates a form fit with the respective opposite female element 130, such that the opposite female element 130 guides the movement of the opposite male element 40 through the annular opening 133 and into the cavity 134.

As clearly shown in the above description, the bracelet of the invention fulfills the above mentioned needs and also obviates the drawbacks of prior art extensible bracelets as set out in the introduction of this disclosure.

Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the extensible bracelet of the invention as described hereinbefore to meet specific needs, without departure from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims. 

1. An extensible bracelet, comprising: an annular element formed by a plurality of links disposed in mutually adjacent relationship in an annular direction, an elastic ring which is mounted to extend through each link in said annular direction, wherein: each link is coupled to a link adjacent thereto, such that they can move relative to each other in the annular direction, each link has a female element at a first end portion and a male element at a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, the female element and the male element of each link are mutually movably attached to the male element and the female element, respectively, of the two links adjacent thereto at each side of said link, each male element comprises a slot, said slot extends in said annular direction, is dosed by two ends in said annular direction, and is open between two side was to define a through opening extending between said two side walls in a transverse direction, perpendicular to said annular direction, each female element comprises a side hole whose axis extends in a direction parallel to said transverse direction and a pin that extends through said side hole and said through opening of the slot of the male element of the link adjacent thereto, to restrict the movement of the female element of one link and the male element of the link adjacent thereto away from each other.
 2. The extensible bracelet as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each female element has an annular opening whose axis extends in said annular direction and which is configured to allow the male element of the adjacent link to extend therethrough, and a cavity configured to receive said male element of the adjacent link, and said side hole is disposed proximate to said annular opening.
 3. The extensible bracelet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the male element of each link creates a form fit with the respective female element of the link adjacent thereto, such that the female element guides the movement of the male element through the annular opening and into the cavity.
 4. The extensible bracelet as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each male element extends to a head end, one of said two ends of said slot is disposed proximate to said head end.
 5. The extensible bracelet as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each link comprises a first portion and a second portion which are mutually coupled such that they can move relative to each other in said annular direction, said first portion has said male element, and said second portion has said female element.
 6. The extensible bracelet as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said first portion comprises an opposite male element disposed opposite to said male element, said second portion comprises an opposite female element disposed opposite to said female element, and the opposite male element of the first portion and the opposite female element of the second portion are attached to each other such that they can move relative to each other in said annular direction.
 7. The extensible bracelet as claimed in claim 6, wherein: each opposite male element comprises a slot, said slot extends in said annular direction, is closed by two ends in said annular direction, and is open between two side was to define a through opening extending between said two side was in said transverse direction, perpendicular to said annular direction, and each opposite female element comprises a side hole whose axis extends in a direction parallel to said transverse direction and a pin that extends through said hole and said through opening of the slot of the opposite male element, to restrict the movement of the first portion and the second portion of each link away from each other in the annular direction.
 8. The extensible bracelet as claimed in claim 7, wherein: each opposite female element has an annular opening whose axis extends in said annular direction and which is configured to allow the opposite male element to extend therethrough, and a cavity configured to receive said opposite male element, and said side hole is disposed proximate to said annular opening.
 9. The extensible bracelet as claimed in claim 8, wherein each opposite male element creates a form fit with the respective opposite female element, such that the opposite female element will guide the movement of the opposite male element through the annular opening and into the cavity.
 10. The extensible bracelet as claimed in claim 1, wherein each link is made of metal, preferably a precious metal such as gold, silver, platinum. 